Despite being sidelined for a month with an arm injury late in the season, Vista junior Ryder Roberts was determined not to miss the boys water polo playoffs. In the Division I final, he got his reward.

Roberts scored his only goal of the game in overtime at 45 seconds into the first of two extra periods to enable the top-seeded Panthers to top Carlsbad 6-5 and end the Lancers’ record eight-year title reign at La Jolla High’s Coggan Pool on Saturday.

“I was playing no matter what,” said Roberts, who converted after Vista went scoreless in the second half. “Nothing could stop me from helping my team. This feels so good.”

Vista (27-4) claimed its first title since 1976 and avenged a one-goal loss to the Lancers in last year’s title game while making its third finals appearance in four years.

“We’ve known all season that this was our season,” said Panthers coach Dave Spence, whose team held a 5-4 halftime lead. “When push comes to shove, at the end, we were going home with a win.”